This likely is thanks to Apple's plans to create 75 indirect jobs during construction of the site, which it will source locally, and the firm's pledge to give two tracts of land back to the city that will be used for greenways and public recreation.

Greenpeace has welcomed Apple's latest project, with Gary Cook, senior IT analyst praising the firm for the move and saying that rival Amazon should take note.

"Apple's latest investment in solar energy shows that it is committed to maintaining its record of powering the iCloud with 100 percent renewable energy," he said. "iCloud users should feel good knowing that clean, solar energy is powering their songs, videos and photos."

"Jeff Bezos should take notice of Tim Cook's leadership as Apple proves that we can power our online lives with renewable energy, leaving Amazon further in the dust.

"With Amazon's release of the new Fire smartphone and the associated growth in its photo storage, Amazon needs to commit to powering its data centers with 100 percent renewable energy, as its peers have done, or it risks becoming an even bigger polluter." µ